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Epstein-Barr virus in Reed-Sternberg-like cells in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas
1Department of Histopathology, St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, West Smithfield, London, U.K.
Insights
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was detected in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like (HRS) cells within certain non-Hodgkin
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a distinct lymphoma characterized by Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells.
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies.
- Distinguishing between HD and certain NHL subtypes can be challenging based on histology alone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) exhibiting Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like (HRS) cells.
- To reclassify cases initially diagnosed as HD but found to be NHL upon detailed review.
- To explore the potential role of EBV in the pathogenesis of HRS-like cells in NHL.
Main Methods:
- Histological review of ten NHL cases with HRS-like cells.
- Immunophenotyping to aid in accurate classification.
- Epstein-Barr virus detection using EBER in situ hybridization (ISH) and latent membrane protein (LMP) immunostaining.
Main Results:
- Four out of ten NHL cases with HRS-like cells were EBV-positive.
- EBV was found in HRS-like cells of lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, Richter's transformation, and T-cell immunoblastic lymphoma.
- HRS-like cells expressed CD30 in three EBV-positive cases; B- or T-cell antigen expression was variable.
- T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas were EBV-negative.
Conclusions:
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may contribute to the development of HRS-like cells in a subset of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL).
- The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive diagnostic methods, including immunophenotyping and viral studies, in differentiating complex lymphoid neoplasms.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise relationship between EBV, HRS-like cells, and the pathogenesis of NHL.
Abstract:
In the course of our study on Hodgkin's disease (HD), ten cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) containing Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like (HRS) cells were encountered. Many of these cases had initially been diagnosed as HD, but on careful review of the histology, with the aid of immunophenotyping studies, they were reclassified as NHL. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in these HRS-like cells was investigated using a combination of EBER in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunostaining for the detection of EBV-encoded latent membrane protein (LMP). HRS-like cells in four cases (two lymphoplasmacytoid lymphomas, one Richter's transformation of lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, and one immunoblastic lymphoma of T-cell type) were found to be EBV-positive. In two of these cases, a second biopsy taken up to 10 years later also contained EBV in the HRS-like cells. In three of the four cases, HRS-like cells expressed the activation antigen CD30, but the expression of B- or T-cell antigens was variable. All cases of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphomas were negative for EBV. In conclusion, EBV may play a role in the development of HRS-like cells in some cases of NHL. The relationship of HRS-like cells to HRS cells of HD is discussed.